The IS captured the gas wells east of Palmyra in Homs after intense clashes with the Syrian troops, Xinhua reported citing the pan-Arab al-Mayadeen TV.

The captured wells were close to the al-Shaer natural gas field, which was captured by the IS July 17, but it was recaptured by the Syrian troops July 26 following a counter-offensive the Syrian troops unleashed to wrest back control over that key gas field.

The IS, previously known as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, has self-proclaimed an Islamic Caliphate in areas striding Syria and Iraq. It has also succeeded in capturing almost of the oil fields in the oil-rich province of Deir al-Zour in eastern Syria on the borders with Iraq.